Doors Open Dishes: How Chicago's Culinary World is Helping Local Communities

We chatted with writer Nicole Schnitzler about Doors Open Dishes, her new initiative that partners with Chicago chefs to raise money for group homes and workshops in Illinois for those with developmental disabilities.

The concept for Doors Open Dishes came to Nicole Schnitzler while watching her brother Daniel whip up one of his favorite meals. Daniel, who was diagnosed with autism at the age of three, has a very particular palette. One of Daniel’s classic dinner time routines finds him filling up a bowl with frozen mixed vegetables and topping it off with Kraft parmesan cheese. One night as Nicole, a writer who frequently covers food, watched Daniel eat his classic dinner, she began to wonder if a professional chef could make Daniel’s meal of choice more appealing.

Nicole's fantasy became a reality with Doors Open Dishes, Nicole and Daniel’s new initiative to support Chicago’s group homes and workshops for people with special needs. Doors Open Dishes invites Chicago chefs to meet with a client in one of these organizations and create a dish inspired by the client’s favorite meal. The updated favorite is then sold at a local restaurant in Chicago for one month with some of the proceeds from the dish going towards the client’s group home or workshop. It’s a tasty way to support these much-needed programs, especially as the Illinois budget crisis has caused funding for services for those with special needs to be cut.

Doors Open Dishes’ first collaboration begins this September at Cindy’s Rooftop with a dish created by Chef Christian Ragano and inspired by Daniel. Chef Ragano has given Daniel’s Kraft parmesan and frozen vegetable dinner a makeover, upgrading it to Chicken Milanese served on sweet corn pudding, with Texas caviar, chow chow, smoked shallot, and arugula. The dish will be available from September 1st-30th during lunch hours and is sure to be a hit.

Doors Open Dishes currently aims for a new collaboration with a Chicago restaurant every other month and looks forwards to creating a widespread and lasting impact. “As we move forward, we would love to create new Chicagoland partnerships between restaurants and group homes/workshops throughout the year,” Nicole tells us. “Eventually, we are looking to expand into other cities/states to try to help raise as much awareness and funds for these programs as possible.”

Nicole’s passion for this cause is evident when asked about how she feels to receive such generous support for Doors Open Dishes from local restaurants. “To be able to marry my career and longstanding interest in the restaurant industry with my dedication to Daniel and his community is truly the best of both worlds,” she explains. “The most amazing aspect of the project, thus far, has been the chance to witness the overlap between these worlds and to see how each one is able to impact the other. It has been exciting to see these individuals get excited about food, and it has been humbling to work with such incredible culinary talent.”

Doors Open Dishes has already planned their November collaboration with Bill Montagne of Nico Osteria, who is creating a seafood flatbread inspired by Carrissia, an autistic resident of Rimland Services in Evanston. The positive reaction from local restaurants has been extremely heartening for Nicole and only affirms her love for the culinary world. “Chefs are a busy bunch who are often pulled in a million directions for work, charity, and personal life,” she tells us. “To see those we have worked with give generously of their time, energy, and creativity has only affirmed my trust in how giving and hospitable this community really is.”

Make sure to make your lunch reservations at Cindy’s and try their Daniel-inspired dish. For more information on Doors Open Dishes' collaboration with Cindy's, check out this video. To keep updated on their upcoming collaborations, please check out their website.